Beer-dispensing apparatus.



Patented 001;. 6, 1 908.

2 BHBBTS-EHEBT 1.

' WITNESSES:

Y'AT ORNEYS TH: A IORRIS EETERS 9a., WASHINGTON. 0. c4

. S. J. ASBELL. BEER DISPENSING APPARATUS. APPLICATION rum) AUG.'8,'1906.

900,076. A v Patented oct. 6,190s.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR;

1HE NORRIS PETERS co, WASHINGTON. n. C

' same, reference being hadto the accompanyter or other cleansing'fiuid without requir from difierent vessels,but 'which are open washingfl 'Bytheuse of *fluid-co'n 1 utilize the pressure 'ot,*say; a city waterIsys sYLvt,s ER ASBELL; F i IE bN W. ERSE i To all'whomdt may concern."

Be itlniown that I, SYLvEsTER J. ASBEIL, 1 a citizen of the United States; residing Paterson; Passa ic county; New 'Jersey ,-have I ass-am se meme ivaeoop'relff r I ApplicationfiledlAugusti8;190G. Seria1No.329,641."

invented certainfnew, anduseful Improvements in Beer-Dispensing Apparatus andI I do-hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear; and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable'others skilled in the art towhich it appertains-tomake and use the ing drawings, and to letters git/reference marked thereonywhich form a part ofthis specification. i'

My invention relates tokapparatus-for' dis.-

- pensing beer andsimilar beveragesstored under pressure; and particularly to apparatusof this nature in which the beverage is of either oliflerent kinds or qualities and therefore. requires separate storingvessels' and separate discharge means thereforin orderto avoid intermingling. y The principal object ofmy'invention is to so construct an apparatus of this character that it may bethoroughly-flushed with waplace where the vessels are situated in orderto shut off the severalvessels \fromthe sys tem of piping to: be cleansed.

Incarrymg out my obj ec't lq'arovideffor shutting off eachvesselkfro'm its discharge plilpe by means of, a fluid-controlled valve I rther provide tubular connections "between the discharge pipes "fOIf the vessels and in these connections place other fluid-controlled valves whicln'during dispensing,are closed so as to prevent intermingling of the liquids durin trolle valves', I anienabledto so construct the systemthat the operations are not only simplified and rendered much more; conven ient than is possible by-apparatus meth ods now in use, but considerable.wearfand carelessness for inexperience' on the part of the attendants are avoided. I usethe-exf pression fluid-controlled Valves'. injthe foregoing .landfin certai n" of the claims broadly and Without reference in any way 1 to the source from whichthe fluid, pressure is 3 Letters Patented 0a. 6, 190s.

tem to'move the valves prior to the washing operation. I

Ithas'been heretofore proposed to provide for equalizing the pressure above and below the liquid inanyvessel, during intervals between dispensing periods (whereby to nor- 5' mally' maintain the liquid in the vessel). As suchmeans as'so far commonly used involves a pipe connecting the pipes leading to the several ,faucets of the corresponding vessels, precautions must be taken lest the liquids in thedifl erent vessels mix by way of said pipe; another object of my invention is therefore to "provide means for safe-guarding the contents of the several vessels against mixing by wayof the pipe aforesaid. I

My inventionwill be found fully illustrat'ed in; the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 illustratesa' dispensing apparaq, M

tus constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a detail illustrating a modification; Fig. S is a vertical sectional view through oneof the valves for shutting 011". the dischargepipe of any vessel from throughone of the valves whereby the connectionbetweena'ny two discharge pipes is normally interrupted to prevent the liquids the latter'yFigT- l is a vertical sectional view i in said pipes from intermingling during disfOrthe passage of liquid from one of said pipes tothe other'during cleansing; Fig; 5

shows one form ofthemeans whereby an equalizing ofpressures relatively above and below theliquid in any one vessel may be maintained iwithout possibility of the liq uid's different vessels mixing; Fig. 6 illus tratesyanother form of the means just renected therewith, c, d and e vessels in which liquid to bedispensed is stored, and f, gand yhthe' discharge pipes for said vessels, the u T same beingcoiled'in the'ice-chest Z) and tertear and disarrangeinent or partsthroughf mjiniitin'g in the faucetsz' j and 7c, respecf .t-ive'y.

Z designates the usual cocks, located just .pensingbut may be rendered open or clear ferred to; and, Figs. 7 .and 8 illustratestill y I another formof said means. 1

0, and 7) is a pipe containing a pressure regulator r and a gage s and having the branches 2, and u. The branch a has valved connections 0) which, with the lower ends of the discharge pipes f, g and h, are connected with the usual devices w, set in the vessels, in .such manner that the pressure entering through at and o from m will act against the top of the liquids in the vessels so as to force said liquids, when released, up through the devices to into the discharge pipes.

In each pipe f, g and it is arranged the valve A shown in Fig. 3. This valve comprises a cylindrical chamber 02 having the nipples 3/ and .2 entering the same from the top thereof, and forming the connections whereby the valve is let into the respective discharge pipes f, g or it, the nipple y terminating at its inner end in a seat 1. Onto the lower end of the casing, which is open, is screwed a cap 2 having a nipple 3; the nipple 3 is coupled to the portion of the pipe f (g or it) which extends upwardly from the device to and the nipple z to the portion of said pipe which leads upwardly to the faucet i or 76). In the chamber 00 is arranged a piston 4 whose construction it is not necessary to describe more than to say that it snugly fits the chamber 00 and has a rubber valve 5 at its upper end adapted to take against the seat 1 and a rubber valve 6 at its lower end adapted to take against the inner end of the nipple 3, which inner end forms a seat 7 for said valve 6; the stem 8 of the valve may be guided, as shown, in the nipple 3.

Between each two adjoining discharge pipes f, g and h are the connections 9 and 10. These enter the chamber 00 of the above described valves in said discharge pipes by way of the ports 11, each port being disposed above the upper limit of movement of the piston 4: in said valve chamber. In view of the foregoing it will be apparent that when the piston 41: of any one valve is down the liquid from the vessel corresponding thereto is free to flow through its pipe f, g or it, but when said piston is elevated and the valve 5 engages the seat 1 the portion of the pipe 7', g or it which is above the valve is cut ofi from the vessel.

As so far described, the liquid discharging from any one vessel up through its discharge pipe would be free to intermingle with the liquid in a neighboring vessel, if the valves 5 for the two vessels were open, the course of flow being then obviously through the ports 11 and the connection 9 or 10. I therefore provide for preventing the liquids in different vessels from intermingling in this manner by means of the valve B. Here 12 is a valve chamber having separate minor chambers 13 in its upper part, which chambers communicate downwardly with the body of the valve chamber 12 through the valve seats ll and which have hollow nipples 15 leading to them.

16 designates check-valves adapted to take against and be guided in the seats 14:, the same being arranged to close from above, so as to prevent a flow from either of the chambers 13 into the body of the chamber 12 but permit a reverse flow. The stems 17 of these valves project downwardly and are adapted to be engaged so as to raise the valves by a piston 18 fitting snugly in the body of the chamber 12. Downward movement of the piston is limited by a cap 19 screwed into the open lower end of the chamber 12, in which cap the stem 20 of said piston is guided.

21 designates hollow nipples entering the valve chamber 12 in a plane between the cap 19 and the lowest position of the piston. It being remarked that the nipples l5 afl'ord means for connecting the valve B in the connection 9 or 10, it will be obvious that the liquids from different vessels 0, (Z or c are prevented from mixing on account of the separated arrangement of the minor chambers 13 and the valves 16; when, however, said valves are raised, liquid entering the valve from one pipe f, g or 71. will be free to pass through said valve B to the neighboring pipe.

22 is a pipe leading from a source of fluid pressure, such as city water, and 23 is a faucet arranged therein and having a handle 24: extending up to the bar and also having a drain escape 25. This pipe has the branches 26 and 27, the former having connections 2S terminating in the nipples 3 of the valves A and the latter including the valves B, which are attached into saidconnection by the nipples 21 thereof. Branches 26 and 27 may be plugged, as at 29, at their free ends. As shown in Fig. 2 there may be a separate faucet 23 for each pipe 26, 27.

From the pipe 22, back of the faucet 23, leads a pipe 30 having a cock 31 and a reducer 32. This pipe may be connected with any faucet i, j or is by means of a. rubber hose 33.

In order to equalize the pressures relatively above and below the liquid in the vessel after each dispensing, whereby to normally retain the liquid entirely within the vessel, the branch 2? may be connected with each of the faucets 2', j and 77: by tubes 33, each tube having a cook 34 (Fig. Or, branch t may terminate in the casing 35 of a cock 36 penetrated by a port 37 which co1nmunicates with a slit 38 in the side of the cock in such manner that when the port 37 is alined with the branch 15 the air will flow through port 37 and slit 38 into tubes 39 leading to the respective faucets, but when said port 37 is not alined with the branch L, the pressure will be shut off from the faucets (Fig. 6). Or, again, the branch I, may discharge by means of successive tubes 40 into seams ports; 41, in casings 42 connecting each: fa-uset with' its pipe f, g -,or h, saidzp'ortfbeing 5 connected by 1 an angular :p0rtj43 with. the

in branch 17 is therefore off. 5

;' Operation: In operation duringworking periods, there is [no vpressure[against the under sides; of thepistons 4 and 18,, since at this time, faucet 23,;(or faucets 28) being closed, the? drain escapethereof is open and the pressure 1 of such fluid. as might have been in the system on the side of, the yalves referred to is relieved. U on I the 1' opening of any faucet 2', j; or leatherefore, the pressure from, cylinder m. will force the liquid in the corresponding vessel 0, :(Z or e out of the g, faucet,} the samefiowing through thepipe f,

g or J1, andincidentally through the-valveA by way of the nipple y, the valve chamber w and the nipple z. VWhen the faucet is closed, 1 one ;of the cocks .34, the cock 36,:or

- the cock 45 (which may be provided in; con

nection withtheequalizing means shown in Figs. 7 and 8) is opened, thus equalizing the pressure aboveanol below the liquid, Tatleast in the 'vessellast drawn, from. ';The opera- 1 tion as so far described is substantially the 7 same as any beer dispensing, systems .now in liquidjin the several Vessels is'first caused to common: use employing,- a similar pressure equalizing means. 3 When it becomes; necessary to wash out the; system ofapiping, the

return thereto by} effecting, the equalization of pressures above, and lbelowthe same in the manner just stated,,whereupon.the-faucet 23 (or faucets 23) is opened.wThisalatter actionadmits pre'sjsure from the pipe 22, on

the onehand through the branch 26antljthe connections 28 to the-under sides of the pistons 4 inthe valves A,; which; pistons rise and so shut oil the portions of the pipes, f,

g and it above said valves from the'portions below the same, and on the other hand, it admits the pressure tobranch 27, which pressure raises the pistons 18 in the valves B so that they in turn raise the check-valves" 16 in said valves 6, thus affordinga clean passage through the [connections 9 "and 10.

The system is now clear throughout for washing, and it is only necessary to open up two of the faucets i, j and 7c and connect the third one by the tube 33 with thepipeBO.

and open the cock 31 in order to let the cleansing fluid from pipe 22 enter by said faucet and pass out by the other two, in the meantime running through, say, pipe f,

1 valve A,;the" connection; 9, and, valve. B there -i n ,1;the. i adjoining Valve A, and therefrom on thegonehaind out through faucet j by way of ,pipe g and; oni-thei other hand through ,connectioni lOfiand its valveB, the next -valveIA,-the f'pipe ih-gand its faucet; "Of fcourse; reverse 7 g. and :h Jean: be effected. by subsequently causing ithe' -cleansing fluid to enter thereby ows through'any one pipe: 7,

instead; of discharging therefrom. The purpose ofthereducer 32 isto prevent the pres sureifrom p ipez30t from overbalancing the pressure in branches 26:,and 27 which is op-. erating'on the undjer sides of the pistons 4. ,lVithout the: reducerthe )res'sure from pipe 22rthrough 30 and one to the pipes fig and it; would be the'same onthe top of the piston 4 as: thecpressure i from pipe 22 through-26 and 281011theunderisideofsaid piston, and thefformer pressure-being augmented by'xthe pressure in the vessehwhich iswd'erived from the cylinder 4%, the piston. would be de:

pressed and open the 'way for the flow ofthe liquid through valve A and out of the other two faucets, mingling with the water.' The contents of the vessels might be thus entirelygdrawn oifcwithouti-its being observed.

The' reducer32 serves to thereforelkeep the pressure of :the cleansing liquid, ;,combined with: that'vof the pressurein the cylinder'm, below that of the pressure in pipe 22. i 1 Itshouldrbe observed thatthe valves 16 automatically:tendwto close under gravity. Theyyalso tend to close when there is .a pre ponderance ofpressure above them, i. a, on the side thereof adjoining the liquid approach from, the vessels;lthepressures from the? vesselsthus check themselves during dispensing: V and automatically prevent the liquids mingling. i i c t o, i

'The function, ofv th'evalve 6 is to prevent the'liquid from the vessels from leaking out way ofzthe connections 28 during working'periods and where through wear. of the piston-4 anflescape would be formed permittiiigth'eliquid to pass the piston.

It will be-observedthat the yalves Ar'are placed atthe junctionsof the-pipes f, g and [I a-With the connections 9 and 10 ;i thus there is left no portion of the system above the valves proper 5 of valves A which is not subject to the cleaning flow during washing, while the arrangement makes it possible in practice to reduce to the minimum the portion of each pipe f, gor it relatively below valves 5twhich will not receive the cleaning treatment.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what'I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

y 1. The combination of a plurality of vessels, .a plurality of faucets corresponding thereto, a tubular conductor connecting each vessel with its respective faucet, a valve chamber, a piston movable in said valve &

chamber, means for admitting fluid pressure to said chamber at one side of said piston, a tubular connection between said conductors, said valve chamber being arranged in said connection and the communications between said valve chamber and said connection being at the other side of said piston, and check valves arranged in said chamber on said other side of the piston and adapted to close the way through said connection and chamber from. either conductor to the other, said valves being controlled by the piston, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a plurality of vessels, a plurality of faucets corresponding thereto, a tubular conductor connecting each vessel with its respective faucet, a tubular connection between said conductors, checkvalves in said connection opening the one against the flow through said connection from one direction and the other against the flow through said connection from the other direction, and means for effecting the opening of said valves, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a plurality of vessels, a plurality of faucets corresponding thereto, a tubular conductor connecting each vessel with its respective faucet, a tubular connection between said conductors, checkvalves in said connection opening the one against the flow through said connection from one direction and the other against the flow through said connection from the other direction, and fluid-pressure means for effecting the opening of said valves, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a plurality of vessels, a plurality of faucets corresponding thereto, a tubular conductor connecting each vessel with its respective faucet, a tubular connection between said conductors, means, controlled by pressure emanating from either conductor, for closing olf the way through said connection to the other c011- ductor, and means for operating said firstnamed means to open the way through said connection, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a plurality of vessels, a plurality of faucets corresponding thereto, a tubular conductor connecting each vessel with its respective faucet, a tubular connection between said conductors, means for closing off the way through said connection in both directions, said means normally occupying the closing position, and means for operating said last-nan'ied means to open the way through said connection, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a plurality of storing vessels, a plurality of valve chambers, a piston movable in each chamber, means for admitting fluid pressure to each chamber at one side of said piston, )ipes each having one part thereof leading from one of said vessels to the corresponding chamber at the other side of its piston and the other part thereof leading from said chamber at said other side of the piston, said piston being adapted to close off the way from said first named part of the corresponding pipe to the other part thereof through said chamber, a tubular connection between said pipes, and check-valves in said connection opening the one against the flow through said connection from one direction and the other against the flow through said connection from the other direction, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a plurality of vessels, a plurality of faucets corresponding thereto, a tubular conductor connecting each vessel with its respective faucet, a tubular connection between said conductors, a source of fluid under pressure, valves arranged in said conductors between said connection and the vessels, means for conveying the fluid from said source to said valves to operate the same, and means for conveying the fluid from said source into one of said conductors for cleansing said conductors and the connection, said last-named means comprising a pressure reducer, substantially as described.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand this (3th day of August, 1906.

SYLVESTER J. ASBELL. Vitnesses JOHN TV. S'rEwAnn, M. D. BELL. 

